Written Answers Wednesday 22 December 2010

Scottish Executive

Community Planning Partnerships

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage community planning partnerships to deliver the youth strategy.

Angela Constance: The Scottish Government published Valuing Young People - principles and connections to support young people achieve their potential in April 2009 with the support of a wide range of partner organisations including COSLA, NHS Scotland, Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), YouthLink Scotland, Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament.

  This publication assists partners at National and Community Planning Partnership level work together to support young people achieve their potential under National Outcome 4 – our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

  The Scottish Government also supports Young Scot’s work with community planning partnerships to involve young people in decisions that affect their lives.

Electricity

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that the environmental effects of undergrounding the proposed Beauly to Denny power line will be during construction only and that the area affected will subsequently return to its pre-construction condition.

Jim Mather: Depending on the habitat and land use of a particular area, apart from the sealing end compound required at each end of an undergrounded stretch of transmission line, the majority of environmental effects will be during construction.

  While there can be no guarantee that the area affected will be perfectly returned to its pre-construction condition, any undergrounding of the main Beauly to Denny line would be undertaken in accordance with the appropriate environmental regulations and best practice to ensure that its impact was minimised.

Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism will provide an update on the progress of the strategic plan for the distribution of funds from dormant bank accounts, as outlined in the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008.

Jim Mather: The next critical step in the distribution of funds under the 2008 act is the order to be made by the UK Government for the apportionment of the funds between UK administrations. We understand that the UK Government plans to open the consultation on the apportionment under section 17 of the act in January and the subsequent affirmative order will be laid before the UK Parliament in early spring.

  The Scottish plans for distribution, as I outlined to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee in June 2010, depend to some extent on the level of funds which will be available. Current indications are that the total amount for distribution is likely to be lower than expected and the reclaim company may well release those funds more slowly. I will report to the Parliament once these issues, which are principally matters for the UK Government, have been resolved.

  Our best estimate is that the BIG Lottery Fund may be able to release some funds in late summer 2011.

Fuel

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that fuel supplies are available across Scotland during the current severe weather.

Jim Mather: Determining areas of priority for fuel deliveries is a matter for fuel distribution companies based on their customer needs and demands. During times of fuel disruption, Scotland’s fuel distribution companies work very closely with the Scottish Government, local authorities and other key stakeholders to monitor and maintain key fuel deliveries. However, it is normal practice for heating fuel distributors to prioritise fuel for their vulnerable customers and those who have run out.

Fuel

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to identify areas experiencing difficulties with fuel deliveries during the current severe weather.

Jim Mather: As part of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Arrangements, the Scottish Government is liaising with a range of key stakeholders including Scotland’s fuel industry, local authorities and police to ensure that fuel supply into and throughout Scotland is maintained and that fuel is available for Scotland’s fuel distributors. As part of that process, Scottish Government liaises with fuel distributors and the Strategic Coordinating Groups in relation to difficulties in particular areas of Scotland and seeks to encourage action to be taken at local level where this is possible.

Local Government Finance

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what a 3.6% reduction amounts to in terms of Glasgow City Council’s budget.

John Swinney: Glasgow City Council’s indicative revenue funding will be £1,391.8 million in 2011-12, a reduction of £51.5 million from 2010-11. Glasgow City Council’s total funding will remain the highest per head of any mainland local authority in Scotland.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the decision of the Crown Estate to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has undertaken of the rationale for the Crown Estate’s decision to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government’s recent consultation paper "Securing the Benefits of Scotland’s Next Energy Revolution" argued that the Crown Estate Commissioners in Scotland should be more accountable to the people of Scotland and maximise the economic impact from our unique renewables resource. In this particular case, the Scottish Government is fully aware of the decisions taken by the Crown Estate Commissioners. It is not the case that the Crown Estate Commissioners have imposed a moratorium on development activity, but they have indicated that they are taking a cautionary approach at the present time on the award of any additional leases. This approach is driven by the need to gain a greater understanding of key development issues. The Scottish Government supports a marine planning approach which encourages development in the most appropriate locations and minimises cumulative impacts, while not ruling out projects in areas that will not adversely impact on existing leaseholders, or the environment. The Scottish Government would wish the Crown Estate Commissioners to consider all mechanisms and options to enable leases for wave and tidal developments to proceed consistent with the long-term opportunities for the area.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Crown Estate concerning the decision to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the Crown Estate Commissioners regarding marine renewables development in these waters as part of our joint chairing of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Delivery Group.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Crown Estate sought advice from Marine Scotland on the environmental implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it received.

Jim Mather: The Crown Estate Commissioners have not sought advice from Marine Scotland on this matter.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought the advice of Marine Scotland on the environmental implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it has received.

Jim Mather: Marine Scotland is part of the Scottish Government.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Crown Estate sought advice from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) on the economic development implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it received.

Jim Mather: This is a matter for the Crown Estate Commissioners and HIE to respond to.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought advice from Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the economic development implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it has received.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not sought any such advice.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Renewables and marine renewables developers concerning the potential impact of the Crown Estate’s decision to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has had some informal discussion with marine renewables developers concerning the Crown Estate Commissioners approach to new leases for wave and tidal energy in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters strategic area. We discussed this issue with Scottish Renewables prior to the publication of their paper on Driving the Low Carbon Economy – Wave and Tidal Energy .

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Scottish Renewables and marine renewables developers concerning the potential impact of the Crown Estate’s decision to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not received any formal representations from Scottish Renewables and marine renewables developers concerning the potential impact of the Crown Estate Commissioners approach to new leases for wave and tidal energy in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters strategic area. However, it is aware of the fact that Scottish Renewables has covered this issue in the recommendations set out in its recent Driving the Low Carbon Economy – Wave and Tidal Energy paper.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been carried out of the implications for the marine energy sector of the Crown Estate’s concerns regarding minimum spacing between developments.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it or its officials have had with the Crown Estate concerning the basis for its concerns regarding minimum spacing between marine energy developments.

Jim Mather: Very little is known at present about the ways in which marine renewables developments within a particular zone or region will interact. These are among a range of important issues which the Scottish Government, the Crown Estate Commissioners, technology developers and other key stakeholders are dealing with through the work of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Delivery Group. Future licensing of marine renewables activities will take account of the interaction between those activities and their environment.

Renewable Energy

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on Scotland’s carbon footprint of operational wind farms in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Jim Mather: No detailed assessment has been made as to the impact of operational wind farms on the carbon footprint.

  As a matter of good practice, the Scottish Government encourages wind farm developers to note the guidance given by Calculating carbon savings from wind farms on Scottish peat lands - A New Approach which is published at

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/25114657/0.

  This enables an indicative figure for the carbon impact of proposed wind farms on peat lands to be calculated.

Renewable Energy

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it makes of the carbon payback periods of wind farms before consent is given for construction and whether there is a defined period requirement.

Jim Mather: The process applied to assess carbon impact of Wind Farm developments is described in the answer to question S3W-38016 on 22 December 2010.

  The Scottish Government currently seeks advice from Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on the carbon impacts calculated by developers.

  No specific threshold is in force for carbon payback periods, however carbon impact is one of the many material considerations that ministers take into account in the determination of section 36 applications. Scotland has a robust consenting system and Scottish ministers will always seek to strike the right balance between developing and delivering Scotland’s energy future and protecting environmental, cultural heritage, economic and community issues.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Renewable Energy

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what carbon payback periods were assessed by (a) the developer and (b) Scottish Government officials for each wind farm with a rated output of 50MW or more for which consent has been given since the beginning of 2000.

Jim Mather: The process applied to assess carbon impact of wind farm developments is described in the answer to question S3W-38016 on 22 December 2010.

  Applications to Scottish ministers for power stations, and those for significant power lines, needs to be accompanied by an Environmental Statement (ES), which describes the effects the development is likely to have on the environment.

  Carbon Payback calculations are included within the ES documentation and during the consultation period the application, and the environmental statement, are made available locally for public inspection.

  Specific information on individual or aggregated applications is not maintained centrally, however, a copy of each environmental statement for each wind farm is retained and is available for inspection at any time within the Scottish Government library at Victoria Quay, Edinburgh.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Renewable Energy

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a post-construction assessment is made of the carbon (a) invested in the construction of wind farms and (b) saved as a result of the energy that they generate in order to check the assessment of the carbon payback period made at each wind farm’s planning stage.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government funded a study in 2007 to scope out the potential carbon impacts of wind farm development on peat. This study developed guidance and a method to calculate carbon emission savings associated with wind farm developments on peat using a full life cycle analysis approach.

  (a) Yes - developers are encouraged to use the guidance above and its calculator when preparing formal applications for section 36 consent.

  The carbon emissions from a wind farm development, and the predicted carbon payback, clearly represent an impact on the natural environment, and so consideration of this impact is included within a submission to ministers whenever such a calculation has been provided within the Environmental Statement. These impacts represent a material consideration in respect of both the natural environment and the Scottish Government’s obligations under the Climate Change Act 2008.

  Scotland has a robust consenting system and Scottish ministers will always seek to strike the right balance between developing and delivering Scotland’s energy future and protecting environmental, cultural heritage, economic and community issues.

  (b) An emissions comparison (tonnes CO2 emitted per Mega Watt Hour) between electricity generation by wind power against that generated by gas and by coal power stations is undertaken as part of the section 36 application process for wind farm applications.

Renewable Energy

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the quota for wind-powered generators, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government’s target is for annual renewable electricity generation to be the equivalent of 80% of gross electricity consumption by 2020. The aim is for the target to be met by a wide range of renewable sources including onshore and offshore wind as well as hydro, wave, tidal and biomass combined heat and power. The target is not broken down by technology or local authority area.

Scottish Enterprise

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5068 by Jim Mather on 1 November 2007 and discussions with Scottish Enterprise, whether Scottish Enterprise continues to use public money to provide private medical care to staff.

Jim Mather: The provision of benefits to staff is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

  I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to the member on this matter.

Skills Strategy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that people of all ages can access relevant and quality-assured training opportunities throughout their working lives.

Angela Constance: Skills for Scotland: Accelerating the Recovery and Increasing Sustainable Economic Growth, the Scottish Government’s refreshed Skills Strategy, sets out a flexible, responsive, partnership approach to addressing Scotland’s skills needs and strengthening the economy.

  The Scottish Government and its agencies, including Skills Development Scotland, offer a wide range of programmes and initiatives to support training for all ages, including modern apprenticeships, Training for Work, Individual Learning Accounts and Flexible Training Opportunities.

  Scotland’s 41 colleges offer a wide range of flexible full and part-time courses for those who wish to gain skills and training, both for those working towards employment and those already in employment.

Skills Strategy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in increasing the number of small businesses taking part in the modern apprenticeship programme.

Angela Constance: At the first Apprenticeship Summit in April 2009, employers told us of the additional barriers small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) can face in engaging with the modern apprenticeship (MA) programme in Scotland. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have made efforts and progress has been made through "Supporting Business through Recovery" initiatives to ensure that all businesses have better information about the modern apprenticeship programme and that they are actively encouraged to take part. We know that 39 micro businesses that employ fewer than 10 people have offered MA places to 62 employees through the "Invest in a Micro Business" initiative.

  At the start of 2010, SDS ran a radio campaign specifically to raise awareness of the MA programme with SMEs and The Scottish Government, in partnership with SDS, introduced an apprenticeship grant to further incentivise the MA programme for SMEs.

  SMEs can also benefit from the Adopt an Apprentice and Safeguard an apprentice schemes. These are designed to ensure apprentices are supported to complete their training during the economic downturn. Safeguard is targeted specifically at SMEs and last available figures indicate 105 small companies have taken advantage of this initiative, offering training to 356 individuals.

Skills Strategy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what practical support it has provided to employers to tackle skills shortages since May 2007.

Angela Constance: Under ScotAction and through Skills Development Scotland the Scottish Government offers a wide range of programmes and initiatives for all ages to support employers in tackling skills shortages. These include modern apprenticeships, Targeted Pathways, Training for Work, Flexible Training Opportunities and Individual Learning Accounts.

Skills Strategy

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the UK Government regarding the future of Remploy.

Angela Constance: Officials in the Scottish Government have regular communications with the UK Government on its reform agenda. These discussions have included the future of Remploy and its status as a non-departmental public body.

  In the light of the spending review settlement DWP has confirmed that the budget for Remploy Limited remains unchanged. Remploy continues to be part of the UK Government’s programme of support to help severely disabled people into work. The status of Remploy as a non-departmental public body also remains unchanged, however, UK Ministers want to look at how they ensure continued improvements in the service provided by Remploy to disabled people.

  Officials in the Scottish Government will continue to discuss the future of Remploy as part of the continuing reform changes.

Tourism

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken in 2011 to promote Perthshire as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland is committed to driving tourism growth in Perthshire and will continue to do so in 2011 by promoting Perthshire in key national and local marketing campaigns and communications with consumers at home and abroad.

  VisitScotland will do this by working in partnership with individual businesses, public agencies, and local authorities to target consumers though marketing, information and inspiration, and quality to maximise the economic benefits of tourism to the area.

  Marketing activity includes publications such as the Perthshire, Angus and Dundee Where to Stay and What to See and Do guides; VisitScotland.com and Perthshire.co.uk websites; marketing activities on seasonal campaigns such as Perfect Day, My Scotland and Winter White; consumer e-zines and e-newsletters and of course providing additional information and inspiration through the six VisitScotland Information Centres (VIC) based in Perthshire.

  VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise work closely with various key stakeholders in Perthshire including Highland Perthshire Destination Management Organisation, Atholl Estates, Gleneagles Hotel, Horsecross Arts Ltd, Nae Limits, Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Scone Estates. These key tourism organisations have received advice and support on strategy development, business planning, training and product development, marketing and promotion and are key partners in helping Scotland and Perthshire increase it’s the visitor offering on the global tourism market.

  In order to increase partnership working and further improve the promotion of Perthshire as a tourism destination I facilitated three stakeholder sessions (in Birnam on 15 July 2010, Crieff on 23 November 2010 and Pitlochry on 20 December 2010) with tourism businesses and organisations in the area that are keen to develop and improve their product.

Tourism

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it and its agencies are taking to promote whisky tourism in Perthshire.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise work extensively with whisky attractions and retailers to help promote whisky tourism in Perthshire and across Scotland.

  Whisky features across a great range of VisitScotland’s promotion of Scotland, including Perthshire, in their marketing campaigns both domestically and abroad, across brochures, websites, PR activity and a variety of other communications to consumers. This is particularly so during our yearlong focus on Scotland’s Food and Drink in the lead up to the second Year of Homecoming in 2014.

  VisitScotland and the enterprise agencies in partnership with The Scotch Whisky Association and The Scotch Whisky Experience supported the establishment of Scotlandwhisky.com, a dedicated site exploring where tourism and whisky can work together. It allows visitors and potential visitors to search for local distilleries, whisky tours, and promotes local whisky festivals and events across Scotland including Perthshire.

  VisitScotland works with several Perthshire based distilleries to provide visitors with special promotions some of which also link to other tourism businesses and activities. These offers are promoted through VisitScotland Information Centre’s, websites and other dedicated marketing activities.

  Whisky attractions such as Dewar’s world of whisky in Aberfeldy and Edradour in Pitlochry feature in VisitScotland guides and brochures, marketing campaigns such as Winter White. Several whisky and local distilleries also feature in VisitScotland’s What To See And Do guide for the area.